Not Only a Calculator

Transfers Between Planets

The calculator can determine the trajectory of a transfer between planets. This trajectory is ballistic, the rocket engine is only activated at each planet to start and end the trajectory. The system calculates (for an optimal ballistic transfer) the start time of the transfer, the transfer time, the needed change in velocity, and the orbital parameters fo the transfer orbit.

Transfers Between Stars

The calculator can determine how long a semi-powered interstellar transfer would take, from both the Earth’s reference frame and the ship’s (due to relativistic time dilation). The system uses an acceleration-coast-deceleration profile, with a constant proper acceleration. It takes in the acceleration time, the proper acceleration, and the distance travelled.

The Team

Minerva Predavec

Programmer and designer

Easter Eggs

How to unlock

There are a few ways to unlock the Easter Eggs in the calculator. One is typing “kerbal” , “starman”, or the Konami Code. You can also look at Eros (under minor bodies) or Iapetus, the moon of Saturn (under minor satellites). Once you do any of these, all Easter Eggs are enabled.

2001: A Space Odyssey

The Monolith on Iapetus plays Also Sprach Zarathusa when you look at it.

The Expanse

Adds bodies from The Expanse (the toggle is on the bottom left), speeds up spin rates for Eros and Ceres, and adds high constant thrust transfers under Epstien Drive.

Full Powered

3D Stereoscopic

Low Resolution

The full-powered version of the PTC, featuring both the mathematics of transfers and stunning graphics.

This version displays the PTC in stereoscopic SBS mode, for viewing on 3D devices like the Oculus and the Vive. Phones do not have the power to run the PTC, so phone-based VR like the Google Cardboard doesn’t work.

This version is a version that doesn’t have planetary surfaces, the real Solar System, or the central sun flare. This is good for running on low-powered computers.